The Comte de Vergennes to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation

[dateline] Versailles 27th. September 1778

[salute] Gentlemen

In the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 28th. of last month, You
recall the promise which the King has made in the 8th Article of the Treaty of Friendship
and Commerce signed the 6th. February last, to employ his good offices with the Regencies
of Barbary, to procure for the subjects of the United States, every security in the
Meditteranean for their Commerce and Navigation. I have communicated your request
to M. de Sartine, to whose department this { 84 } subject belongs, and you will find by this Ministers answer, copy of which you have
inclosed, that he thinks it well founded, But before the orders of the King are taken
in this respect, he requires several eclaircissements.1

I request of you Gentlemen to Address them to me, and to be beforehand assured that
the King will very willingly do whatever is in his power to satisfy the United States
and to render their wishes approved of by the Princes of Barbary.

1. In the enclosed letter to Vergennes of 21 Sept., Sartine asked whether the United
States sought to negotiate treaties with the Barbary States or only wished France
to use its influence to insure respect for the American flag. Sartine considered the
latter course to be unwise and probably fruitless since the Barbary governments, unless
they received some tangible benefits, were likely to pay lip service to the French
request, while continuing their depredations on American commerce. Sartine believed
that it would probably be easier and more effective to negotiate treaties, and in
that case he needed to know what powers and instructions the Commissioners had in
that regard so that the French government could concert its efforts with those of
the United States (LbC, Adams Papers; translation by John Pintard, PCC, No. 85, f. 187–188).

Docno: ADMS-06-07-02-0064

Author: Izard, Ralph

Recipient: Adams, John

Date: 1778-09-28

From Ralph Izard

[dateline] Paris 28th. Septr. 1778

[salute] Sir

I am favoured with your Letter of 25th., and agree with you in opinion that there
is no necessity of discussing the question respecting the Commissioners, now; inconveniencies
might arise from it, and no valuable purpose could be answered that I know of. I agree
with you likewise that if the Fishery of New England has proved injurious, by introducing
Luxury, and Vanity, it must be the fault of the People, rather than of the Fishery.
If the quantity of money which is acquired by the Fishery, affords an argument for
the discontinuance of it, I am afraid it may be applied with equal propriety against
every other industrious means of introducing wealth into the State. The passion for
Ribbons, and Lace, may easily be checked by a few wholesome, sumptuary Laws; and the
money that has hitherto been employed upon those articles will be found very useful
towards sinking our enormous national Debt. This Debt, I fear, will not be sunk during
my life; till that is done, I do not think that any danger to our morals is to be
apprehended from our excessive Riches.

I should be obliged to you if you would let me know whether you think the reasons
which are given in my last Letter, respecting the Treaties, are well founded. I am
very willing to communicate my sentiments to you on the other articles; but submit
it to you whether it { 85 } would not be better that this should be done verbally, rather than by Letter. I have
the honour to be with much esteem Your friend, & humble Servant